Dogs work their magic in autism therapy

Dogs are great companions; they are often called "man's best friend." At Hope Reach Clinic in Woodruff, they are that and so much more.

By Dustin Wyattdustin.wyatt@shj.com

WOODRUFF – ‘Fetch,” the boy timidly whispered.On command, Tucker, a 4-year-old golden retriever, sprang into action. He ran through a play tunnel, snatched the blue tennis ball with his mouth, and ran back toward the 6-year-old, with his head up, tail wagging.The boy smiled; seeing the dog respond to his voice made him shake in excitement.Dogs are great companions; they are often called “man's best friend.” At Hope Reach Clinic in Woodruff, they are that and so much more.The friendly canines are used as therapy for autistic children, who are often nonverbal and have trouble communicating or expressing what they want. The dogs are a learning tool, said Lisa Lane, director of the nonprofit organization that provides in-home and in-school treatment in Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens, Anderson, Union, and Cherokee counties.“Instead of using flashcards to teach a child to say commands, we are using a dog,” she said.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 88 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder, which are defined as a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.The 12 children who participate in the Hope Unleashed Program at Hope Reach Clinic can learn verbs such as running, jumping, sitting and actually see what each word means.

“And they learn that language means something,” Lane said. “If they say something, what they say will impact what happens.”The program has been offered for three years. The therapy dogs are dropped off each day by Dogs for Autism, a Greenville-based nonprofit that breeds, raises and trains service and therapy dogs The group's mission is to enhance lives and increase independence for children with autism and their families through the use of trained dogs.Some of the children at Hope Reach don't respond well to the dogs.“A lot of autistic kids don't like the unexpected,” Lane said. “Some of the kids are scared.”But for those who work well with the therapy dogs, Hope Reach Clinic has seen great results.Josiah, 6, was in the middle of a therapy session on a recent Wednesday when a furry visitor, Tucker, accompanied by his trainer Michelle Rowe, appeared in the doorway.Josiah stood up, his mouth wide open with excitement. With a smile across his face, he approached the dog and began petting his back.“He gets so excited,” said Caitlyn Culp, Josiah's therapist.Once outside, Josiah interacted with the dog. He picked out which color tennis ball he wanted to throw by clicking the appropriate color on an iPad.“The iPad is fine to use, but we want him to actually be able to initiate language,” Lane said. “Finding something for our kids with autism that they are motivated enough to ask for is a huge struggle.”

Dogs for Autism, Lane adds, is a great motivating tool.Josiah would say “fetch” and Tucker would retrieve the ball and bring it back to him. Then, Josiah would say “treat” and feed his tail-wagging buddy a dog biscuit.“Just for him to be paying attention to the dog is great,” Lane said. “So many kids with Autism just don't pay attention to their environment.”Josiah couldn't help but smile as he continued to play fetch with the dog.“And happiness is a worthwhile goal to pursue as well,” Lane said.